Strainer for cisterns



(No Model.)

I HOLMES STRAINER FOR UISTERNS.

No. 586,662. Patented July 20,1897.

wvewto a Kai/(2 y qw4/twaazo elf/tom Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISABELLA HOLMES, OF NEHV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

STRAINER FOR CISTERNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,662, dated July 20, 1897.

Application filed May 28, 1896. Serial No. 593,453. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, ISABELLA IIoLnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strainers for Cisterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invent-ion relates to certain new and useful improvements in strainers for cisterns.

In New Orleans and many other southern cities it is the custom to employ wooden cisterns located above the surface of the ground for collecting and storing rain-water instead of the underground cisterns commonly used elsewhere. In such cases the cistern-cover is ordinarily placed at a distance of six or seven inches from the top of the cistern, being supported thereon by means of scantling six or seven inches in thickness. The reason for elevating the cover from the top of the cistern or tank is to permit the free access of air to the water contained in the tank to prevent the same from becoming stagnant and to keep it pure and fresh. In such cases, however, dirt, insects, and especially mosquitoes find their way into the inside of the tank, the dirt bcfouling the water therein and water serving as a breeding place for the mosquitoes.

My improvements are designed to overcome the objections to the old mode of supporting the cistern-cover, retaining all the advantages and removing all the objections in the old method of construction.

To these ends, therefore, the invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be herein after more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an elevation of a tank or cistern, showing my improved lid or cover thereon and the pipe or conduit leading from the eaves-trough of a house to said cistern, with the strainer attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the strainer, one of the sides being broken away to more clearly show the interior conis a longitudinal section struction. Fig. 3

through the strainer, one of the strainingscreens therein being shown in dotted lines in open position.

Like reference-n umerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The tank or cistern 1 is of ordinary form of construction and has at its upper end a cap or cover 2, either fiat or dome-shaped, the same being secured to the tank or cistern 1 by means of an annular strip of wire-netting 3, which is riveted, soldered, or otherwise socured to said cap or cover. Entering the tank or cistern 1, through the annular reticulated strip 3, is a pipe -1, connected, through the strainer 5, with the pipe (J, leading from the eaves-trough 7 on the top of a house. The pipe (5 enters the strainer 5 at its upper end, and the pipe 4 leads from said strainer 5 from its lower end. The said strainer may be of any suitable form, with an open upper end and two straining-screens 8 9 mounted therein. The strainer S is of coarse mesh and is pivotally mounted upon a rod 10, projecting through the sides of the strainer-casing 5. The screen 9 is of finer mesh than the screen 8 and is adapted to rest against and be supported by flanges 11 11 on the innersurface of the strainer-casing 5. It will thus be seen that the water from the eaves-trough 7 is conducted through the pipe 6 to the strainer 5, falling first upon the screen 8 of coarse mesh and afterward upon the screen 9 of finer mesh, finally discharging through the pipe 4E to the interior of the tank or cistern 1. The screen 8 removes all coarse material, and by reason of its pivotal connection with the strainer-casing 5 the same may be swung open, as shown in Fig. 3,1Tor the purpose of dumping any leaves, animals, or bugs to the outside of said strainer. Finer materials are taken up or stopped by the screen 9 and prevented from entering the cistern. The mesh of the wirenetting of which the screen 9 is composed is so fine that nothing coarser than dust can pass through the same. The air is given free passage between the top of the tank or cistern 1 and the lid or cover 2, but anything coarser than dust is prevented from entering the interior of said cistern by reason of the interposition of the annular strip of wire-netting between said tank and said cover. All

mesh resting upon said flanges and a screen of coarse mesh pivotally mounted in said casing at a point above the screen of fine mesh, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesl ISABELLA HOLMES.

Vitnesses:

LEON HEYMANN, J. XV. FUNsToN. 

